February 2007

The Hensley & Gibbs Design Number 135 is similar to the Ray Thompson designed Ideal/Lyman 358156 Gas Check design:

Another great hollow-point conversion of a two cavity mould by Erik Ohlen at Hollow Point Bullet Mould Service.

The mould is a late production two cavity Hensley & Gibbs Design #135, or a copy of the Ray Thompson designed Lyman 358156 Gas Check for .38 Special/.357 Magnum. This late production mould has the mould handle tang grooves of .308", or the "thick style" which is interchangeable between two and four cavity late style Hensley & Gibbs moulds. I would place production at between 1991 and 1999. I carefully photographed the mould before I sent it to Erik to document the before and after condition.

I purchased this mould off of eBay around 1996, it was one of my first eBay purchases and I have never cast with it. I have several designs of the #135 (2C, 4C, 6C) and this was a safe queen until I finally decided I needed a hollow-point version. This mould block was the obvious choice as it's the only one I have of the later "thick" handle design.

The hollow-point is a "cup-point" style design. When I ordered the conversion, I left the details to Erik after simply specifying I wanted "cup-point" hollow-point.

I plan on casting up some hollow-points this weekend with it and loaded up some of my favorite "Skeeter Skelton" loads for .357 Mag.

Photos:

Larger Photo of Above

http://www.hensleygibbs.com/molds/135/8.jpg

More Photos

http://www.hensleygibbs.com/molds/135/9.jpg

More Photos

http://www.hensleygibbs.com/molds/135/A.jpg

More Photos

Update:

The results of the first casting session with the now Hollow-Pointed mould. Bullet weights seemed to hover ~153 grains as cast. Zero problems with the mould. The photos depict the product of about a 45 minute casting session. I was also casting with a Lyman 452424 Hollow-Point Mould at the same time for rhythm.

Photos:

http://www.hensleygibbs.com/molds/135/casting/2.jpg

http://www.hensleygibbs.com/molds/135/casting/1.jpg

Ready to go to the range....Model 27 5" + Hensley & Gibbs #135 Loads with W296

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